Water softening apparatus



Dec. 9, 1.941.

E. E. EICKMEYER ETAL WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS Original Filed May 23, 1938 10 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 9, 1941.

E. El EICKMEYER EI'AL WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS Original Filed May 23, 1938 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 J A TTORNE YJ m T m V N l Dec. 9, 1941. E. E. EICKMEYER ETAL I 2,265,520

WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS Original Filed May 23, 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 [N V E N T OR 5M4 E Emmi-yak BY ,4,vr//a/w6 flow/27H 9.81 J Z J A TTORNE Y5 Dec. 9, 1941. E. E. EICKMEYER ET AL 6 WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS v Original Filed May 23, 1938 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR I ATTORNEY? flea F. EPcK/VEyEZ f r A BY fl/vrHa/vYA am Am I Dec. 9, 1941' I E. E. EICKMEYER ET AL 2,265,520

WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS O'piginal Filed May 23, 1938 10 Sheets-Sheet e A TTOR N15 1:"

Dec. ,1941. E. BEICKMEYER ETALY 2,265,520

I v WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS INVENTOR 21m 6T EC/Z/VEXFZ BY fl/vr/m/w mmr/z I ATTORNEY5 'Dec- E. E. EICKMEYER ET AL ,5

WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS Original Filed May 23, 1938 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR 7 52 50015? fi/vn-lom 6- A mern m.

A TTORNE Y5 Dec. 9,1941. E. E. EICKMEYER ET AL 26 5 WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS Original Filed May 23, 1938 1O Sheets-Sheet 9 11v VENTOR I 2122 [Gav/[r62 a A N J J A rromva y E. E. EICKME YER ET AL WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS Original Filed May 23, 1938 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 INVENTOR 52a 5. fic/(Mryze fl/vrh'aA/Y. #0: mm 1 L1 j J A rromvz Y5 Patented Dec. 9, 1941 2,2 5,520 WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS Earl E. Eickmeyer and Anthony G. Horvath, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to The Dayton Pump and Mfg. Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original mime. May 23, 1938, Serial No. 209,458. Divided and this application February 13, 1939, Serial No. 256,066

12 Claims.

This invention relates to water softening and water conditioning apparatus.

It is the object of this invention ,to provide a unitary control for the control of the successive operations of refilling, brining, washing and softening.

The particular object of the invention is the provision of a brine valve as an integral part of the single control valve.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for the upward wash of the mineral bed during the refill period of refilling the brine tank.

It is an object to provide the brine tank with hard water immediately before the regenerating process and not afterwards, as heretofore has been the practice in the art. When the refilling operation takes place before the regenerating process, there is thereby compelled automatically the upward back wash and cleaning of the mineral bed.

It is a further object to, provide a check valve in the injector throat to prevent th washed water which flows upwardly through the mineral from contaminating the clean hard water which fiows through the jet and thence through the brine valve into the brine tank.

An additional feature of this invention is double washing of the mineral bed in opposite directions: the first wash is in the reverse direction to softening upwardly that carries sediment from the top of the mineral bed to drain during the refill operation, and the second wash is subsequent to brining in the reverse direction downwardly, whence the brine and any remaining sediment goes to drain. The advantage of this double washing is the removal of accumulated sediment on top of the filter softening body prior to brining to permit the active reaction of the brinegdirectly on the magnesium and calcium salts without being impeded by any coating of sediment on the mineral.

The further object is to remove the free salts of magnesium and calcium with any accumulated sediment by the final washing after brining so that hard water when it is passed through the mineral to be softened will not be contaminated and can be actively softened by clean, regenerated mineral.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 209,458, filed May 23, 1938 which matured into Patent No. 2,245,767, on June 17, 1941.

Referring to the drawings:

away to show the general arrangement of the apparatus. I Figure 2 is a detailed front elevation of the singel control valve.

Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof with the rotor shaft in section showingin dotted lines the compartments and ports in the valve.

Figure 4 is a section on the line l-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detailed section showing a modification of the valve structure.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure '7 is a section on the line 'l-! of Figure 4 looking in the direction of .the arrows,

Figure 8 is a section on the, line 88 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of th arrows.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the I side of Figure 2.

Figure 15 is a bottom plan view of the valve of Figure 2 Figure 16 is a top plan view.

Figure 1'7 is a section on the line |l-I 1 looking in the direction of the arrows of Figure 4.

Figure 18 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement of the rotor grooves wtih respect to the distributor ports when the rotor is set in the Figure l is an outside elevation partially broken position for the softening operation, as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 19 is a similar view showing the parts in position to bring about the refilling operations as shown in Figure 12.

Figure 20 is a similar view showing the parts in position for applying brine to the mineral a in Figure 11.

Figure 21 is a similar view showing the parts in washing position such as shown in Figure 9.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the following is a description of the process of washing, softening, brining and refilling.

Process I Referring to Figures 1, 9, 10, l1 and 12 in particular, I designates a tank containing the water S-whi'ch removes the magnesium and calcium and} preferably also removesobjectionable materials;

2,266;52o r v V e I the brine tank-Id to refill the brine tank and I provide a supply of brine for the brining oper-j so far as taste and odor are'concern'ed. Next:

is a layer of lake's'a nd l"; then a" layer of quartz I 5, and finally a body of gravel 6 In this-body of gravel is'located a horiaontaHydisposed perforated pipe 1 through which' the' liquidin the tank;

ation.

Turning to Figure 11', the brining operation-is brought about by moving the handle 9a to the position shown, in which position the brine is withdrawn from the tank liby the pipe and delivered through the valve 9'to thetop of the 1 tank I through the pipe I2 and distributor [3. It 10.

is withdrawn through the pipe 8, whence itenters the control valve 9, the details of which are here-' ina'fter described.

This valve is'connected withtl'iej pipe l'llwhich I v I goes to drain for the discharge of the wash waters The city water or hard water and brine waters. e I I with the valve for supplyin line H is connected the water to be treated, which it passes through the valve and thence'into the pipe 12 and through thedistributor l3 into the top of the tank I, whence it passes downwardly or upwardly as. in

dicated by the arrows, depending upon the nature,

of the operation. The valve 9 is connected by the-pipe for the purpose of delivering brine l5 from the brine tank Hi to the mineral body toregenerate it. Thereafter the brine with the salts of magnesium and calcium and oth'er foreign materials passesout to drainfrom the bottom of the tank, The brine tank is providedwith a layer of gravel, H, a layer of salt l8, andthe salt brine waters li. ,The level of by the pointer l9 on the shaft having the float ,ggWhiCh is a brine float floating on the brine l'5,-- The salt level indicator is designated 22. :It is; mounted upon a shaft 23 which has an enlarged foot 24 resting on top of the salt l8.

a Referring'partlcularly. to Figure 9, whlchillus trates-ythe washing operation, the water frdm the hard water line H passes through the valve 8 into the top of the tank I and downwardly through the mineral to wash it of any remaining brine and foreign material. This waste water passes out through thepipe 8 and'thencethrough these waters is indicated tion shown in'Figure 10 passes down through the cleaned mineral, out the bottom of the tank I, up the pipe 8, through the One ofthe features of this invention is the dual washing of the-mineral bed. It is washed -upwa'rdly' in reverse direction after softening during refilling to carry away any accumulation of sediment on top of the mineral body, which acts as a filter. 'Then thereverse washing takes place after brining, which carries out the remaining brine and any remaining foreign mate rials. In this manner the mineral is thoroughly cleaned in both directionsprior to brinin'g' and after bririing so as not to contaminate or impede v the regeneration operation whichwould be the case if the mineral body were clogged with sedimerit that would prevent the ready attack ofthe brine upon the magnesium and calcium salts of the mineral. v 1

Another advantage of this process is that the valve construction is so arranged that during the washing and refilling, there isnopossibilityof the discharged washed water getting into' the brine' tank to contaminate the brine with any sediment being washed away. by the wash wateri It will be understood'that a variety of different types of valves 9' may be employed which will perform these" several operations and it is not the drain pipe H) to the sewer; After this operation has been completed, which usually takes approximately 20 to minutes, then the system .is ready for theoperation to soften water; The handle 90. of the valve9 is moved into the posts tior'i shown in Figure 10. In this position the incoming hard water proceeds as heretofore described, except that it is now diverted through the service pipe 24 so that softened water is delivered to the household or other place where the tank, out the pipe l2 and thence to\drain,

through the pipe [0, thereby washing the accumulation of sediment and other foreign-materials out of the tank 8' from the top or the mineral where such materials have accumulated. If the water for washing were conducted downwardljy,

this foreign material would be drawn into the mineral. By reversing the directionof flow for this washing of the mineral'durin the refill operation, the mineral is entirely cleaned by reverse flow. At the same time a portion of the water from the line H passesthrough the pipe l4 into During this periodthe hard water from the pipe desired to confine this invention to any particu-- lar mechanism.

However, this invention also comprehends novel features in a valve that has been found practically useful.

tem has been described. 7

Valve mechanism and method of operation Referring to the valve mechanism in-detail, the valve consists of several'major parts: a valve operating handle 9a which is mounted upon and rotates a shaft 25 on which is mounted a rotor 26, which operates within a cover 21 and: which operates against the face 28 of a distribution head 29', the rear end of which is co'nnectedto the pipe I! that in turn is connected to the top of the softener tank I. The bottom of this distributorhead is connected at 30. to the pipe 8; which is connected to the bottom of the softener tank I. The right-hand side of this distributor head 29 is connected at 3| to the drain pipe II). The left-hand end side of the distributor head is connected to the hard water pipe II at '32- and to the service pipe Mat 33. Thebrine pipe I4 These features are described! hereinafter in connection with the detailed de .rotor at its several positions by the handle 8o l spans the port 45 and the will be indicated by this spring pressed plunger 31 which is adapted to be pressed into a series of depressions on the periphery of the rotor, one each to each position in which the rotor is set for the distribution of water. This, rotor turns with the shaft 25 that is supported within the cover 21 in the bearing 39, which is provided with a packing 40 and packing gland 4|. A pin mounted in the shaft 25 engages with the inside of the cover 21. The inner end of the shaft 25 is journaled in a recess43 in one face of the distributor head 29.

By referring to Figures 6 and 18 to 21, the construction of the rotor, particularly with respect to its face adjacent the distributor head 29 and the positioning of the rotor with respect to the distributor ports, will be observed. In this connection, Figure 6 shows the face of the distributor 44, which has a plurality of ports which cooperate with the rotor grooves. The relative positioning of the rotor grooves with respect to the distributor ports determines the distribution in this valve of the fluid. The port 45 in the distributor 29 communicates with the top of the softener through pipe l2. Port 46 in the distributor has mounted therein the jet device 41 used in connection with the injector 46, as will be herein described. The port 49 communicates with the hard water line H. The port 50 communicates with the service pipe 24. The port 5| communicates with the pipe 6 leading to the bottom of the softener. The port 52 communicates with the drain pipe in.

Referring to Figures 10 and 18, which illustrate the softening position of ,the mechanism, the hard water is connected to the top of the softener I through the pipe The bottom of the softener is connected by the pipe 6 to the service line 24. The drain I0 is positively closed by a valve mechanism hereinafter described but illustrated particularly in Figure 5, consisting of the spring-pressed plate 53, which is spring pressed by the spring 54, both the plate 53 and spring 54 being mounted within a chamber 55 in the rotor 21. The parts are so arranged as to bring about down flow of the hard water through the mineral bed in the softener tank I. In such a position (refer to Figure 18) it will be seen that the rotor groove 56 bridges the ports 45, 46 and 49, while the groove 51 bridges the ports 50 and 5|. This permits the water toflow as indicated by the arrows diagrammatically in Figure 10.

Referring to the refill position of Figure 12 and to Figure 19', which shows diagrammatically the the rotor with respect to the distribuwill be observed that the 49,

position of tor during refilling, it groove 56 now bridges the hard water port the service port 50 and the port 5| bottom of the softener. The jet port 46 is connected by the passageway 58. The groove 51 port 53. In this position the hard water pipe II is connected to the jet 41 through the milled slot 58, to the service line 24 and to the bottom of the softener by the pipe 8. The top of the softener l'is connected through pipe l2 to the drain pipe Ill. The flow through the mineral bed isupward, This washes out the sediment from the top of the mineral bed direct to drain without any of this dirty water getting into the refill water for the brine tank. At the same time hardwater is being delivered from the pipe I I through the valve to the pipe H to refill the brine tank generation operation that will next occur. The

leading to the IS with additional water to provide anotherrsupply of brine for the rehard water for this purpose enters the port 49, passes through the passageway 58. makes its exit through the jet 41 and thence through the passageway 59 into the pipe H. In order to do this, the cam shoulder on the periphery of the rotor 26 has lifted the pin 6| against the spring 62 and has lifted the valve member 63.

It will be noted that the groove 51 only connects the top of the softener through the port 45 from which the dirty water is moving to the drain 53 and there is no way by which this dirty water could be introduced into the brine tank I6.

Referring to Figures 11 and 20, which have to do with the brining position, the groove 51 of the rotor spans the drain opening 52 and the bottom of the softener opening 5|. The recess 53 is over the opening 45 leading to the top of the softener. The recess 56 spans the jet opening 46, the hard water opening 49 and the service opening 56. By this arrangement the city water or hard water is connected to the service line for the dwelling using the soft water and the jet opening 46 is supplied with water so as to induce the flow of brine from the brine pipe l4 through the injector to the top of the softener, whence the brine passes through the mineral tank I, out the bottom through the pipe 8, into the groove 51, thence through the drain opening 52 into the drain pipe In to the sewer. The force of this injected water passing through the injector 48 lifts the cover sleeve 64. This cover over the injector is normally closed by the spring pressing against the member 66. The opening to the brine line I4 is effected by the cam surface 60 lifting the pin 6| and thereby opening the valve 63 against the spring 62. This valve 'has a hard rubber seat 63a engaging with the soft rubber seat 63b, so as to form a tight seal when the valve is closed. In the event the soft rubber wears away, the hard rubber still provides a yielding seal. This is essential to prevent'any leakage of water into the brine tank when it is not bein refilled because otherwise it might overflow.

Referring to Figures 9 and 21, which illustrate the washingpperation, the rotor groove 56 spans the washing operation, the rotor groove 56 spans the 'jetopening 46, the hard water line 49, and the service line 56. The groove 51 spans the bottom of the softener line 5| and the drain opening 52. In this position the hard water is connected to the service line and to the injector jet 46. The bottom of the softener is connected by the pipe 6 through the groove 51 to the drain 52. The water is flowing downwardly at this time. In this way the household or other building connected to the service line is being supplied with hard water'while the washing operation is washing the accumulated brine and salts of magnesium and calcium from the mineral out to the sewer. v

It will be understood that the rotor 26 has water pressure on the back or left-hand face (Figure 4) to cause it to press firmly against the face 26 of the distributor. This is effected by having the water pass through the port 61 from the front of the rotor to behind it.

It will be understood that it is desired to comprehend within this invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

V 1. In combination, a tank of water softening mineral, a brine tank, a single control valve body having a plurality of chambers, a, single connec tion to said chambers from each the top and bottom of said softening tank, said brine tank, a hard water line, a service line, and a drain line, a rotating member insaid bodygiaving flow passages therein to establish how connection between the plurality. of chambers in a manner that b'y moving said single rotating instrumentai lity flow passages will be successively established-for the successive operations of softening, mineral backwashing with simultaneous brineitankrefilling,

for successively establishing flowoconnec'tion between the several passages in the valve, saidflow pjass water through said mineralutank to the service line, said rotating member upon actuation thereof first establishing flow connection through said mineral tank in a direction reverse to norvalve, a passage in said valve for conducting hard I water to said Jet device,an'injector. operatively associated with saidjet device to developsuction,

conduit means for connecting said brine tank to a point between said jet device and saidinj ector,

asecond conduit means forconnecting saidinjector with said tank of -mineral, a passage through said valvefor conducting hardwaterto said tank to back-wash the mineral'thereimand check valve-means positioned adjacent saidin- Jector and in communication with the mineral ;tank for closing said injector when water used in check-washing the mineral flows thereagainst.

"5. In combination, a tank of water softening mineral, a brine tank, a single control valve,

means for connecting said valve to a hard. water supply source, a jet device associatedwithxsaid valve,.a passage in said valve for conducting :hard

- water to said'jet device, an injector operatively associated with said jet device to develop; suction,

conduit means for connecting said-brine tankv to a point between said jet device andsaid-injecto'r,

a "second. conduit means for connecting said in-,-

.jector with said tank of mineral and for: conconnections being so arranged as to normally mal therethrough to drain tobackwash the same and simultaneously direct an independent stream of waterto the brine tank to refill it; second, to pass brine through said mineral tank in the normal flow direction and thence to drain for regeneration; and third, to pass fresh water in the v I normal flow direction through said mineral tank and thence to drain'to wash the brine therefrom.

13. In a water softening system wherein water isidirected from a source of supply to a tank having water softening material therein and wherein the material is back-washed priorto regeneration, the latter being accomplished by passing a brine solution through the material to a waste connection, the combination therewith of a flow control system including a single flow control valve having pipes communicating with the top and bottom of the softener tank, a brine line communicating with the brine tank, a drain line, a hard water line, and a service line, said valve comprising a body enclosing a rotatably mounted rotor therein having passageways on one face thereof, a distributor connected to said lines having a plurality of chambers therein and a port in ieach chamber adapted to communicate with said passageways in the face of said rotor according to the position thereof with respect the distributor ports, an injector in said'distributor, and abrine valvepositioned within said flow control valve to open and close said brine line, said flow control valve having means for-operating said brine valve during back-washing and'regencrating periods, said flow control valve thereby providing fiow passages therethrough whereby the successive operations of softening, back-washing and simultaneous filling of the brine tank, regencrating, and washing brine from'the softener may be successively performed by successive movements of the valve rotor in a single direction. I I

4 In combination, a tank of water softening ducting water from said tank to said valve during back-washing of the mineral of said tank, said valve having a passage therein to connect said conduit with a drain conduit, and check valve means positioned adjacent said injector for closing said injector when water flow isestablished in said second conduit by said valve means from said tank to said drain conduit, said injector being in the path of said flow and adapted to be opened by the jet from said jet device at all other times, and valve means in said brine conduit positioned within said single control :valve which is opened upon actuation of said control valve to establish said back-wash flow tosimultaneously permit water to flow to said brine tank to fill the same. v

1 6. In combination, a tank 01' water softening mineral, a brine tank, and a single manually 0perated valve means having a hard water passage therethrough, conduit means connecting said valve with said mineral tank, conduit means connecting said valve with said brine tank, and

means in said passage for directing'a portion of the water passing through said passage ,1 to the mineral tank to back-wash the mineral therein and for directing the remaining portion of the water to the brine tank for filling the brine tank with water simultaneous with the back-washing.

'7. In combination in a water softening system having a back-wash period for the softening mineral prior to the regeneration period, a tank of water softening mineral, a brine tank, a single control valve, separate conduit means connecting the bottom and top of said mineral tank to separate ports in said valve, a single conduit means connecting said brine tank to a brineport in said valve and adapted to pass brine from said brine tank to said valve during regeneration setmaterial, a brine tank, a single controlwalve,

means for connecting said valve to a hard water supply source, a jet device associated with said ting of said valve and to pass water from said valve to said brine tank during back-wash set-.- ting or the valve, a hard water line connected to a hard water port in said valve, and conduit means in said valve for simultaneously passing hard water from said hard water port to'said brine port and said single conduit means connected thereto and to one ofsaid separate ports a and :conduit means connected to said mineral tank whereby the hard water flows to said mineral tank to back-wash the minerallbed therein during simultaneous fillingof the-brinetank in preparation for the regeneration period, a

assume 8. In combination in a water softening system having a back wash period for the soitening mineral prior to the regeneration period, a tank of water softening mineral, a brine tank, a single control valve, separate conduit means connecting the bottom and top of said mineral tank to sep-; arate ports in said valve, a single conduit means connecting said brine tank to a brine port in said valve and adapted to-pass brine from said brine tank to said valve during regeneration setting of the valve and to pass water from said valve to said brine tank during back-wash setting of the valve, 2. hard water line connected to a hard water port in said valve, and conduit means in said valve for simultaneously passing hard water from said hard water port to said brineport and said single conduit means connected thereto and to that one of said separate ports which is in connection with the conduit means interconnecting the port with the bottom of said mineral tank whereby the hard water flows to the bottom of said mineral tank to upwardly back-wash the mineral therein during simultaneous filling of the brine tank in prepara-' tlon for the regeneration period.

9. In combination in a water softening system having a back-wash period for the softening mineral prior to the regeneration period, a tank of water softening mineral, a brine tank, a single control valve, separate conduit means connecting the bottom and top of said mineral tank to separate ports in said valve, a single conduit means connecting said brine tank to a brine port in said valve communicating through said port with one of said separate conduit means and adapted to pass brine from said brine tank to said valve during regeneration setting of said valve and to pass water from said valve to said brine tank during back-wash setting of said valve, a hard water line connected to a hard water port in said valve, conduit means in said valve for simultaneously passing hard'water from said hard water port to said brine port and said single conduit means connected thereto and to one of said separate ports and conduit means connected to said tank whereby the hard water flows to said mineral tank to back-wash the mineral bed therein during simultaneous filling of the brine tank, and means for preventing the back-wash water issuing from the other of said separate ports with which the brine port is in communication from mingling with the hard water which is passed to said brine port and to said brine tank in preparation for the regeneration period.

10. In combination, a tank of water, softening mineral, a brine tank, a hard water line, a drain line, a single control valve, a jet device, an inadapted to be opened by the jet irom said Jet device and to be closed by the reverse flow of water against said valve towards said third port, and means in said control valve for when in one position connecting said hard water port to said second port and said third port to said drain line and simultaneously opening said brine valve whereby said injector is closed and said jet from. said jet device is directed into the chamber between it and said injector and thence into said brine tank conduit means and said brine tank and said mineral is simultaneously washed, and when in another position connecting said second port to said drain line and simultaneously opening said brine valve whereby said jet from said jet' device is directed through the injector and sucks brine i'rom said brine tank and on sets it into the other side or said mineral tank.

11. In combination, a tank 01 water softening mineral, a brine tank, a single control valve thereior, a hard water line, a drain line, a jet device, a brine tank conduit leading from said brine tank and adapted to function as an inlet or an outlet for saidbrine tank, a-brine valve in mineral tank, a third port in said control valve in communication with a conduit leading to the top oi. said mineral tank, a jet device fed by said hard jector associated therewith, a chamber therebetween, a brine valve actuated by said control valve, single conduit means leading from said brine tank and connected to said brine valve, a hard water line, means connecting said hard water line with said jet device, a hard water port in said control valve in communication with said hard water line, a second port in said control valve in communication with one side of said mineral tank, a third port in said control valve in communication with the space behind said injector, said last/maimed space being also in com-- munication with the other side of said tank oi mineral, a check valve on the injector throat water line, an injector therefor having a throat adapted tovreceive the jet thereof, a check valve for said injector adapted normally to close off said injector and to be opened byv said jet, said check valve being in communication with said conduit leading to the top of said mineral tank and disposed in such manner that theflow or iwater from the top oi 'said mineraltank to said third portlmaintains said, check valve closed, and means in said control valve-for connecting said hard water port to said second port and said: '7

third port to said drain line and simultaneously opening said brine valve whereby said injector is closed and the jet from said jet device passes to said brine tank and the mineral in said mineral tank is simultaneously washed upwardly. I

12. In combination, a tank of water softening mineral, a brine tank, a single control valve,

means for connecting said valve to a hard water supply source, a jet device associatedwith said valve, a passage in said valve for conducting hard water to said jet device, an injector operatively associated with said jet device to develop suction, conduit meansfor connecting said brine tank to a point betweensaid jet device and said injector, a second conduitmeans for connecting said injector with said tank of mineral and for conducting water from said tank to said valve during back-washing ofthe mineral in said tank, 

